Agricultural compounds & residues

Agricultural compounds (including veterinary medicines) are chemicals used to protect and improve plants and animals grown for food. They're also used to keep pet animals healthy. Learn more about these compounds, how they're used and the controls in place to make sure they don't harm people.

What are agricultural compounds?

Agricultural compounds can be natural or synthetic and can include:

veterinary medicines

fertilisers and plant growth regulators

pesticides (fungicides, herbicides and insecticides).

The use of agricultural compounds

Approved agricultural compounds are used by conventional and organic farmers and growers to:

improve the quantity and quality of produce

keep animals and crops healthy

reduce the spread of diseases, weeds, parasites and other pests.

Agricultural compound use is an integral component of food security, allowing countries to feed people and livestock economically and efficiently. They also help secure the food supply and ensure countries like New Zealand can maintain an economy based on food exports.

Using agricultural compounds helps to:

maintain yields from season to season by managing pest and disease outbreaks and weather-related effects

maintain animal welfare by protecting animals from diseases

minimise the formation of toxins, like mycotoxins, in plants that are defending themselves against pests or disease. These toxins can potentially make people and animals ill.

Agricultural compounds may also be used to prevent and eradicate biosecurity incursions.

Agricultural compounds can leave residues

Because they must be in place long enough to do their job, chemical residues from agricultural compounds can remain in meat, fruit or vegetables at the time of harvest or slaughter. With improving analytical techniques we are now able to see minuscule levels of chemicals if they remain after treatments.

Use is tightly controlled by law

Before any agricultural compound can be used in New Zealand, it has to be approved for use under the Agricultural Compounds and Veterinary Medicines Act 1997. Agricultural compounds are also controlled under other legislation, including the:

Food Act 2014

Hazardous Substances and New Organisms Act 1996

Biosecurity Act 1993

Animal Products Act 1999

related regulations and standards — such as the Animal Products Notice: Contaminant Specifications and the Food Notice: Maximum Residue Levels for Agricultural Compounds.

The legislation includes penalties for misuse of agricultural compounds.

Agricultural compounds can be used only if their benefits (for food production and storage) outweigh risks from residues for people and livestock.

Tests required for all new agricultural compounds

Companies applying to register new agricultural compounds or seeking approval for new uses of existing compounds must submit detailed scientific data from studies of the compounds. These studies must meet high regulatory standards. MPI thoroughly assesses the studies and any additional information (such as information on the use of the product overseas or similarities to already registered compounds) before approving the new compound or use.

Data from the studies must demonstrate:

the lowest amount of compound that can be used to get the maximum benefit for each use

what residue levels may remain in food at harvest or slaughter so a withholding period (time between the last application and harvest or slaughter) can be set

the shelf stability of the commercial form of the compound, suitability of its ingredients, and quality control during manufacture.

The residues are compared with health-based guidance values set by the New Zealand Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) to confirm whether they are acceptable in-diet. Acceptable residue limits are then set and recorded in the Maximum Residue Levels Food Notice under New Zealand law.

MPI assesses all the studies in tandem with the EPA which assesses the toxicity of the product and its safety to users and the environment.

MRLs must not exceed health standards

While MRLs are not specifically set as health limits, before any MRL is proposed, MPI will check it against the reference health standard for relevant foods. Reference health standards are the amount of a specific chemical – like a food additive or agricultural compound – experts have decided is safe for a person to eat each day over their lifetime.

Residues in New Zealand are similar to levels overseas

Foods sold in New Zealand have similar or lower residue levels than are found in other countries. However, it can be difficult to compare results between countries because of varying climate conditions, pest types and agricultural production methods.

New Zealand's use of some 'banned' chemicals

Some agricultural compounds used in New Zealand aren't used in other countries. This doesn't mean they're 'banned' for food safety reasons.

An agricultural compound may not be registered in another country because:

the country doesn't grow the crops it's used on

the country doesn't have the pest it protects against

the country has other products that are used for the same purpose

it poses a specific threat to the country's wildlife or environment. For example, 1080 is very toxic to dogs so is banned in the US to protect native coyotes.

Reducing your residue intake

Studies of the New Zealand diet show New Zealanders' intakes of residues and other chemicals in food are well below safety levels. If you're still concerned, you can reduce your exposure by:

thoroughly washing all produce, especially if eating raw

following manufacturers' instructions for mixing chemicals and waiting for the entire withholding period

using compost from reputable firms – make sure it is well composted and mixed into the soil

Information you requested is not viewable

You do not have permission to access this document.
If you believe you have received this message in error please contact
info@mpi.govt.nz.
For information about restricted areas of the site visit
http://mpi.govt.nz/.